86: Chapter 86 One-Slash Kill

Facing Lie Yun's "Heaven-Burning, Sea-Boiling" Fire Sand Palm—which looked violent but was actually hollow and weak due to an unstable foundation—his eyes remained calm and waveless. In his heart, there was only one thought: End this quickly. He could not let this madman delay him; the situation at Tingtao Villa was unclear, and Centurion Shen Lian's safety was uncertain!

"Wind-Facing Slash!"

He shouted inwardly, and the massive Qi and blood within his body, which had reached the Second Grade Late Stage, were instantly driven to their limit, surging frantically into his right arm and pouring into the long blade along a mysterious trajectory!

The Qi and blood channeled by the Perfection Five Elements Stance were harmonious, dense, and overwhelmingly unstoppable!

He held nothing back. His terrifying arm strength of nearly three thousand jin, combined with the blade-wielding technique of "Wind-Facing Slash" which condensed his essence, Qi, and spirit to pursue extreme speed and explosive power, was poured entirely into this single strike!

"Clang—!"

The blade light was not a ribbon; it was a gray-white thin line, condensed to the extreme, as if it had internalized all brilliance and killing intent, suddenly bursting forth from the scabbard!

There was no shrill sound of breaking air, only a faint "hiss" that seemed to slice through the air and sever the Void Realm.

The speed of the blade exceeded the limits of visual perception. It was as if the moment Lin Tian drew his blade, that streak of gray-white thread had already crossed a distance of several zhang, appearing directly in front of Lie Yun's crimson palm shadow!

"What?!" The ferocity and wild laughter on Lie Yun's face hadn't even fully unfolded before the gray-white thread, which froze his very Soul, was reflected in his pupils!

Too fast! It was so fast that his unstable, surging Qi and blood, and his seemingly ferocious palm stance, appeared so clumsy and sluggish before this blade light!

"Boom—!!" The gray-white blade line and the crimson palm shadow collided with a roar!

There was no stalemate, no explosive roar, only a dull, resolute tearing sound, like a hot knife cutting through butter!

That crimson palm energy, which had seemed capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas, was like paper; it was split in two by the gray-white blade line and instantly disintegrated and annihilated!

The blade light's momentum did not diminish in the slightest; it was as if it had merely passed through a thin mist, skimming past Lie Yun with absolute precision.

Lie Yun's forward-rushing figure suddenly froze, the expression on his face fixed in a mix of incredulous rage and a trace of horror at facing death that had not yet fully risen.

At the center of his brow, a red line as thin as a hair quietly appeared, then rapidly spread downward, piercing through his entire body.

"Im...possible..." His lips moved, emitting a barely audible breathy sound. In his eyes was reflected the image of Lin Tian, who stood there after sheathing his blade with steady breath, and the massive Qi and blood radiating from his body—far denser and heavier than that of a Second Grade Middle Stage, enough to make him feel suffocated.

"Second Grade... Late Stage?!" This thought flashed like the final bolt of lightning through his Chaos-filled consciousness.

The next moment, the red line suddenly widened, and blood erupted like a fountain!

Lie Yun's body, along that straight red line, was neatly split in two. With internal organs and shattered bones, it collapsed heavily to both sides, kicking up a large cloud of dust and withered leaves.

Until his death, his wide-open eyes still retained extreme shock, confusion, and a trace of the delusion of revenge that had been completely shattered.

He could never have dreamed that the "power" he had obtained by recklessly consuming a demonic pill and overdrawing his life would be so vulnerable before the strength the other party truly displayed.

Lin Tian flicked his wrist, shaking off non-existent blood droplets from the blade edge, and returned the blade to its scabbard with a faint "click."

The entire battle process, from drawing the blade to sheathing it, took no more than a breath. He had not even moved his feet.

Without even looking at the gruesome, split-in-two corpse on the ground, Lin Tian's sharp gaze quickly swept across the surrounding dark forest.

He opened his spiritual senses fully, perceiving any abnormal movements or auras.

Lie Yun's appearance was by no means accidental; this was clearly a scheme by Constable Lie Ming, or rather, the person behind him. They had lured him away from the perimeter of the villa to have Lie Yun intercept and kill him.

So, were there any follow-up plans? Or was this just a part of luring the tiger away from the mountain?

The forest was silent, save for the rustling of the night wind through the branches and leaves, and the sounds of fighting from the direction of the villa in the distance, which were becoming increasingly intense and starting to mingle with Chaos and shouts of alarm.

"Something is wrong..." Lin Tian frowned slightly. The commotion inside the villa seemed even more chaotic than when he had left. Had Centurion Shen Lian and the others... encountered trouble?

Just as he was preparing to return immediately to the villa's perimeter to investigate—

"Boom—!!!" A deafening roar, filled with endless rage and pain, like an injured ancient Vicious Beast, erupted suddenly from the depths of Tingtao Villa, resounding through the night sky!

Lin Tian instantly recognized that voice; it was Centurion Shen Lian!

"No! It's an ambush! Centurion Lord is injured! Retreat quickly—!" Immediately following was Squad Leader Zhao's sharp shout, filled with shock, anger, and urgency.

"Cover the Lord!"

"Form up! Fight while retreating!"

"Don't get bogged down in the fight! Go!"

Chaotic shouts, the fierce clashing of weapons, explosions of energy, and some kind of cold, evil screeching were mixed together, like a boiling pot of oil.

The Imperial Guard's offensive, which had been solemn, murderous, and steadily advancing, seemed to be broken in an instant, falling into Chaos and passivity.

Lin Tian's heart sank abruptly. Centurion Shen Lian was injured?!

With Centurion Shen Lian's strength as a Rank 3 Martial Artist, plus dozens of Imperial Guard elites, how could they fall into such a situation in such a short time?

Just how many demonic cult experts were lying in ambush inside this Tingtao Villa? What kind of terrifying death trap had been set?

"Retreat! Retreat back to Heishan City!"

"Hurry, go!"

The chaotic sounds and footsteps were moving rapidly toward the outside of the villa; clearly, the Imperial Guard was attempting to break out and retreat.

Senior Sister Chen Yu, Liu Yunfeng, and those county yamen constables who had been left to guard the villa's perimeter were clearly stunned by this sudden, drastic change.

After a brief, dead silence, shouts of alarm and angry roars rang out: "Centurion Shen!" "Something happened inside!" "Quick! Reinforce the Lord! Stop those Black-Robed Men!"

Firelight flickered, and figures moved about. The originally tight encirclement was instantly shaken. Many people rushed toward the villa's gate, attempting to reinforce their retreating comrades, while others looked in terror at the ghostly figures of The Black-Robed Men chasing out from within the villa, instinctively drawing their blades in defense or even beginning to retreat.

Lin Tian, who had originally intended to return immediately to reinforce them, forced himself to stop.

He looked at the chaotic scene in the distance, where firelight and dark shadows intertwined, especially sensing the heart-palpitating, cold, evil energy and powerful fluctuations spreading from within the villa, his eyes flickering rapidly.

Centurion Shen Lian was severely injured, the Imperial Guard was retreating, the demonic cult's power was overwhelming, and the outer defensive line was in disarray... If he were to rashly rush back now, not only might he fail to save Centurion Shen Lian, but he could also fall into an encirclement and become a target for the demonic cult experts.

Constable Lie Ming had lured him away, perhaps precisely because he had calculated the incident inside the villa, wanting to bury him along with them.

"I must return to the city immediately! Take the news back! Heishan City is likely going to face huge trouble!" Lin Tian made his decision in an instant.

He took one last look at the villa in the distance, which had become a slaughterhouse. No longer hesitating, he exerted force with his feet, driving his Perfection footwork to its limit. His whole body became like a gray shadow merging into the night. He did not return along the original path but turned in another direction, using the cover of the forest and terrain to dash rapidly toward Heishan City.

At this moment, preserving his useful life to bring back accurate intelligence and alert the city to be on guard was far more important than indulging in a moment of bravery.

Lin Tian raised his speed to the limit; his Perfection-level Wind-Chasing Footwork allowed him to move across the mountain forest as if on flat ground.

He deliberately bypassed paths where he might encounter retreating troops or demonic cult pursuers, choosing only dangerous and difficult terrain. He could still faintly hear the shouts of battle and screams coming from far behind, but the sounds were rapidly diminishing and moving away.

About half an hour later, the towering silhouette of Heishan City finally emerged in the night.

The city gates were tightly closed, but the city walls were brightly lit with torches. The patrolling soldiers were clearly several times more numerous than usual, and the air was filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Lin Tian did not alert the guards. He found a section of the city wall where the defense was relatively weak and, relying on his Perfection footwork and powerful physique, climbed up the wall silently, then slid down like a civet cat, landing in a dark alley within the city.

Identifying his direction, he immediately dashed toward the Jinyiwei Company Office.

When he arrived at the Centurion Office, it was already filled with a murderous and chaotic atmosphere.

The main gate was wide open and brightly lit. Imperial Guard soldiers and junior flags, covered in blood and looking panicked or angry, kept streaming in while helping one another. The air was filled with a heavy scent of blood and medicinal powder.

Urgent commands and the clashing of equipment were intertwined.

"Junior Flag Lin! You've returned!" A soldier who recognized Lin Tian hurried up to meet him, his face still showing lingering fear.

"Where is Centurion Shen? What is the situation?" Lin Tian asked urgently.

The soldier's expression darkened, and he shook his head, saying, "Squad Leader Zhao and the others just brought Centurion Shen back. He was severely injured, struck in the chest by a strange, sinister palm energy. He is unconscious, and several brothers who know medicine are trying their best to treat him... The specific situation is not yet clear. The brothers who went in... nearly half were lost, and Squad Leader Zhao also suffered a serious injury..."

Lin Tian's heart sank, and his fists clenched involuntarily. Nearly half lost! Centurion Shen Lian severely injured and unconscious! This loss was too heavy!

"What about Senior Sister Chen Yu and Liu Yunfeng? Have they returned?"

"Senior Sister Chen and Junior Flag Liu have both returned. They suffered some minor injuries and are currently helping inside."

Lin Tian nodded, stopped asking further questions, and walked quickly into the Centurion Office.

He saw that several makeshift sheds had been erected in the front courtyard for treating the wounded, and figures were busy at work.

He found Senior Sister Chen Yu, who was bandaging a wounded person. Upon seeing him return safely, she clearly breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes were also filled with lingering fear and worry.

"Lin Tian, it's good that you're alright... Inside the villa..." Senior Sister Chen Yu's voice trembled.

"I know everything," Lin Tian said in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic and miserable scene in the courtyard. "You continue your work; I'm going to check on Squad Leader Zhao."

He found Squad Leader Zhao in the inner hall, having his wounds simply treated, his face pale.

Squad Leader Zhao's left arm had been severed at the shoulder. The wound was wrapped in thick, blood-soaked gauze. His breath was weak, but he was still conscious.

"Squad Leader Zhao!" Lin Tian stepped forward.

"Lin Tian... you've returned... Good, it's good that you've returned." Seeing Lin Tian, a trace of relief flashed in Squad Leader Zhao's eyes, but it was immediately replaced by pain and anger. "We... were tricked! That villa was a trap carefully set by the demonic cult! There were at least four Rank 3 Martial Artist-level demonic cult monsters lying in ambush, along with dozens of Second Grade experts, and they even set up a vicious evil formation! As soon as Centurion Shen Lian entered the core area, he was ambushed and severely injured... We fought desperately to carve out a bloody path... cough, cough..."

He coughed violently, blood foaming at the corners of his mouth.

"Squad Leader Zhao, please don't speak for now, rest well." Lin Tian quickly supported him, but his heart was surging with massive waves. Four Rank 3 demonic cult experts! And an evil formation! No wonder even someone as strong as Centurion Shen Lian was defeated so quickly and so miserably!

This was by no means an ordinary demonic cult stronghold; it was like a death trap specially designed for the Imperial Guard, especially for Centurion Shen Lian!

"We must immediately strengthen the city's defense and impose martial law throughout the city! The demonic cult monsters might take advantage of the situation to attack!" Lin Tian said urgently.

"We have... already sent people to notify the garrison and the county yamen..." Squad Leader Zhao gasped, his eyes filled with unwillingness and deep worry. "Centurion Shen Lian is severely injured, and we have suffered heavy losses... Heishan City... is in danger..."

Meanwhile, at the West City County Yamen. In the secret room of the back hall, candles were burning brightly. After listening to the incoherent and fearful report from the constable leader who had escaped back, Magistrate Zhou Wenhai slammed the teacup in his hand onto the ground with a "crack," shattering it!

"What?! Centurion Shen Lian is severely injured?! Nearly half of the Imperial Guard are dead or injured?!" Magistrate Zhou Wenhai stood up abruptly, his face turning as pale as paper, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Although he had some dissatisfaction with the Imperial Guard, especially with Centurion Shen Lian, he knew deep down that Centurion Shen Lian was like the stabilizing pillar of Heishan City!

If Centurion Shen Lian fell, a huge void would immediately appear in Heishan City's high-end combat power! Not to mention those cruel and terrifying demonic cult monsters, who were actually only a hundred li away and possessed such formidable strength!

"The demonic cult... the demonic cult is actually this rampant..." His voice went dry, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Thinking that he had almost led the team himself during the day, he felt a wave of lingering fear, his legs going weak, and he could barely stand. Thank goodness his advisor had dissuaded him! Otherwise, it might have been himself who was severely injured or even dead at this moment!

On the other side, Constable Lie Ming was also somewhat uneasy. After all, the plan was to kill Centurion Shen Lian, but he hadn't expected the Centurion to survive. He didn't know if this counted as completing the plan. However, even if Centurion Shen Lian didn't die, the plan wasn't a complete failure, because Lin Tian was definitely dead, so he could consider it revenge for himself and his younger brother.